Setting of axminster spools



Sept. 20, 1960 P. w. ROBINSON 2,952,391

SETTING OF AXMINSTER SPOOLS I Filed March 5, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 1mama-a. "W

I NTO PM @11 1, R0 Mm k ATTQKNEYS.

Sept 1960 P. w. ROBINSON 2,952,891

SETTING 0F AXMINSTER SPOOLS 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 5, 1954 I] llH||| A I I I I I g/ls ' INVENTOR alk Kobmsaw.

BY @L-Ja-h-SAJ M k. ATTORN em.

P 1950 P. w. ROBINSON 2,952,891

SETTING 0F AXMINSTER SPOOL-S Filed March 5, 1954 1 7 Sheets-Sheet 3KNVENTOR Wo-dL KOLUJSOKW 4.; ATTORNEY j p 1960 P. w. ROBINSON 2,952,891

SETTING 0F AXMINSTER SPOOLS Filed March 5, 1954 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOK Wfifiv KoLLwSaw WW Am 3 ATTORNEYS Sept. 20, 1960 P. w. ROBINSONSETTING OF AXMINSTER SPOOLS 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 5, 1954uoocanooonuoop I i 1 oan oaooecqoouuoaonoooecoaooomw INVENTQIK PM WM.Kobukfim BY QAWMQM 4- ATTORNEYJ,

Sept. 20, 1960 Filed March 5, 1954 P. w. ROBINSON 2,952,891

SETTING OF WINSTEZR SPOOL-S '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 I [al I av WM mw,

*k. ATTORNEYS H1 1N VENTOK Flu-akin KOBILSUK...

Sept. 20, 1960 P. w. ROBlNSON SETTING OF AmINsTER SPOOLS 7 Sheets-Sheet'7 Filed March 5, 1954 Plan.

INVENTOE PL-L wm Kouum. BY M9 L ATTORNEYi.

2,952,891 SETTING or AXMINSTER SPOOLS Philip Worth Robinson, WoodfieldCedars, Ombersiey, England Filed Mar. 5, 1954, Ser. No. 414,484

Claims priority, application Great Britain Mar. 20, 1953 4 claims. (Cl.28-725) The present invention relates to a method of and means forsetting spoolsfor use manufacture of pile fabrics by the spool Axminsterprocess of weaving. By setting is meant the Winding onto such spools ofthe required number of pile yarnsin sideby-side' relation and in theparticular sequence of colours necessitated by the pile pattern to beproduced in the woven fabric.

To produce a given pattern (or a series of repeats thereof) it isnecessary to set a group of spools each of which spools is normallyutilised to form one weftwise extending row of pile (but which may beused to form only part of a row in wide fabrics), and each of the spoolsmust therefore be filled with a sequence of coloured yarns correspondingto the sequence of colours for the pile tufts of that row orpart row.

The usual method of setting a group of spools is to place in a creelframe the number of bobbins equal to (or not greatly exceeding) thenumber of yarn ends required on each spool, the particular colours ofthe bobbins chosen beingthoserequired for the first spool. The setterthen draws ofr a length of yarn from each bobbin in turn and passes itthrough the respective pair of dents of a reed or sley extendingparallel to the spool and situated between it and the creel frame whichwill ensure that the various colours are arranged in the correctsequence along the spool. This operation having been completedthe spoolis rotateduntil filled. To set the next spool of thegroup, which may andoften is required to be filled with yarns in atdifferent colour sequenceit is necessary for the setter to. change the yarns passed betweencertain dents (and perhaps through all of the dents) of the reed foryarns of a different colour. Further, if the creel frame accommodatesonly that number of bobbins equal to the number of yarn ends on eachspool (or accommodates an insufficient number of bobbins to permit ofthe selection of the next sequence of colours) it isalso necessary forthe setter to take out certain bobbins and replace them by some ofdifferent respective colour. 1

It will thus be clear that the operation of setting a group of spools,occupies a considerable time and requires close attention and skill onthe part of the setter.

Further, unless each row of the pattern requires at least approximatelythesame number of yarns of each of the difierent colours involved in thewhole pattern (which is very unlikely) a very large creel frame would berequired to accommodate sufficient bobbins to avoid removal andreplacement thereof in setting each successive spool. Such a creel framewould in most cases be too large to be conveniently-used and would beuneconomic in terms of capital expenditure.

It has been proposed to provide a spool setting apparatus wherein meansfor receiving and retaining yarn ends arranged in rows equal in numberto the number of yarns-to be wound side-by-side on to a normal-lengthspool, are controlledby selector means which raise and lower the-rows ofyarn ends, therebeing as many yarn ends in each row as there are colourswhich from timeice 2 to-time will be required to be set in the positionconcerned onto one of the spools contained in a complete repeat of thepattern, the yarn ends brought to a datum or selection line beingextracted by gripper means and drawn out for winding onto each of thespools in succession.

A normal length spool used in weaving pile fabrics by the knownAxminster method is some 27" in length and typically there may be sevenyards per inch so that the total number of rows for effecting setting ofAxminster spools by the use of an apparatus as above described would belarge, i.e. 189, and the number of storage bobbins provided in the creelflame associated with such apparatus would be attained by multiplyingthis number by the number of different colours required from timeto-timeto be set into each position on the spool.

The disadvantage inherent in the method involved in the use of such anapparatus is that for each different pattern to be woven it will usuallybe necessary to efiect a substantial number of changes in the colours ofthe yam presented in each of the rows and owing to the large number ofrows this conversion will occupy a considerable time and will materiallyoffset the advantages attained by the use of the apparatus in comparisonwith hand-setting, more especially in cases where manufacturers requireto produce a relatively small number of pile fabrics embodying eachparticular pattern.

To overcome this disadvantage by providing a sufficient number of yarnends in each row to include all the colours which will be required inthe yarn position pertaining to that row for a plurality of patterns,would require a very large increase in the already large number ofstorage bobbins required in the creel frame, andthe or improved methodof setting spools by which both theoperational disadvantages of makingalarge number of bobbin changes when the pattern of the fabric to bewoven is changed, is avoided or materially reduced, and whereby thecapital cost of the apparatus for perform-' ing the method is so reducedthat it becomes economical to employ such apparatus even wherecomparatively small numbers of the same pattern are to be woven in eachrun. a a

A method according to the invention concerns the spool Axminster processof weaving pile fabric involving the setting of a multiplicity of pileyarn carrying spools including spools whereof theyarns are required tobe arranged in respectively differing longitudinal sequences of colours;the method comprising the steps of assembling a supply of yarnscomprising a plurality of sets of supply bobbins, each set containingbobbins having yarnsof different colours and the number of sets being afraction of the total number of yarnsto be set onto each spool, and inrespect of .each of said differinglongitudinal sequences of coloursmaking consecutively a plurality of selections of yarns taking-oneyarn'from each set of supply bobbins, each selection corresponding tothe colour combination of yarnsto beset onto a par-- ticular fractionallength section. of one of the spools-and each selection beingmade fromsaid supply-of yarns, theselections in aggregate providing the wholeyarn colour priate bulk source of yarn including bobbins, cheeses andcones and is to be construed to include all such forms as it may bedesirable or practicable to utilise.

Preferred embodiment of apparatus in accordance with the invention forcarryin out the method thereof will now be described by way of examplewith reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: 1

Figure l is a general view in side elevation of one construction ofapparatus for carrying out the primary stages of the method of theinvention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing one component of a storage deviceutilised in the primary stages 'of the method. n

Figure 3 is a sectional view in side elevation and on an enlarged scaleof the apparatus'shown in Figure l with the working parts inthe positionwhich they occupy after selection, extraction and drawing-out of a yarnQ P- 1 r Figure 4 is a plan view on the same scale as Figure 3 showingthe working parts of the apparatus in the same position.

Figure'S is a fragmentary view showing the general arrangement ofselector means forming part of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a plan view illustrating diagrammatically one form ofapparatus for carrying out the second stage of the method of theinvention.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale showing acontractable guiding device forming part of the apparatus shown inFigure 6.

Figure ,8 is a fragmentary View illustrating a modification of the yarnreceiving and supporting members and associated guiding means intendedto be utilised when all the colours required to be potentially availablefor each yarn position cannot be accommodated in a single receivingmember.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view in side elevation showing an alternativeconstruction of apparatus for carrying out the primary stages of themethod of the invention utilising either a yarn beam having a suflicientlength to accommodate all the yarn groups required for transference to aspool or for supporting simultaneously a plurality of fractional lengthstorage bobbins upon a common spindle for use in a manner analogous tothe yarn beam.

Figure 10. is a fragmentary plan view of the same construction showing ayarn beam in position such yarn beam having separate sections separatedbyflanges.

Figure 11 is a further plan view similar to Figure 10 but illustratingthe use of a different type of yarn beam adapted to produce selfsupporting yarn group winding, and

Figure12 is a fragmentary view of the construction shown in Figure 9 onan enlarged scale and partly in longitudinal cross section showing thedriving means for traversing or displacing the yarn beam carriagelaterally of the apparatus.

. In the following description given in relation to the drawings, themethod according to the invention will also be described in theparticular form in whichit is carried out utilising this apparatus butit will be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificmannerof operation of this apparatus and various a1- ternativesavailable in carrying out the method will be indicated throughout thedescription although these are not to be regarded as necessarilyexhaustive .of possible variations of the method within the scope of theinvention which scope is defined by the claims hereinafter set forth. g

' Referring firstlyf to the apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 to thisis intended for the carrying'out of the primary stages of the method,namely, the selection, arrangement'in the required positional sequence,extraction a and application of the yarns to a storage deviceon whicthey are wound or stored preparatory to the carrying out of thesecondary stage of the method.

In association with the various means and devices for performing theseoperations there will be provided an". assembly of supply bobbins whichmay be supported in any convenient manner enabling the yarn ends fromrespective bobbins to be drawn-01f to enter the apparatus as showngenerally in Figure 1. A portion only of the supporting structure forthe supply bobbins is illustrated, it being understood'that this maycomprise a plurality of posts or frames such as that indicatedat 10 uponeach of which is carried a vertically extending row of supply bobbins11a to 11d, there generally being as many of these supply bobbins in.each vertical row as is required by the number of differently colouredyarns potentially required to be present at one particular yarn positionin each section of the spool length for which an individual primaryoperation is performed.

Consequently the supply bobbins 11a to 11d will ordinarily be ofdifliering colours although in some cases it may be convenient toinclude two or more bobbins of a the same colour where this colour isknown to be required more often in the colour selection to be made thancertain of the remaining colours.

The creel frame or equivalent supporting structure of which the member10 is a part and which is indicated generally at 12 need not contain atotal number of supply bobbins equal to the numbers of yarns to be seton to the spool multiplied by the number of possible colours in whicheach yarn is at some time required to be present on the spools to be setfor a complete pattern or repeat but need only contain a fraction ofthis number of supply bobbins dependent upon the width of thesubdivision or section of the spool which is dealt with in each of theprimary stages.

The choice of the number of yarns to be selected and stored in each ofthe primary stages will depend at the upper end of the scale upon thecapital expenditure which would be necessary to provide a creel frame orequivalent of the necessary bobbin supporting capacity and upon thecomplication and number of working parts which would be involved in theselector and extractor means of the apparatus whilst at the lower end ofthe scale the advantage of themethod will clearly be reduced if thenumber of yarns selected in each primary stage are so few that theresulting multiplication of the primary stages to be carried out foreach secondary stage involves almost as much time and manipulative skillas is required for the present conventional method of hand selecting theyarns from the creel frame directly on to the hole of the spool to beset.

In practice the best advantage is believed to be obtained by confiningthe number of yarns selected in each primary stage to the numbercontainedina width of fabric to be woven lying in the range 2 inches orthereabouts to 7 inches or thereabouts, these yarns occupying acorresponding width of the spool to' be set. In general, Axminster pilefabrics are woven to a closeness such that there are seven pile yarnsper inch, measured in the weftwise direction of the fabric and thereforein general, adherence to the range referred to will involve selecting anumber of yarns in each primary stage ranging from 'yarns selected ineach primary stage although clearly this number, may vary somewhataccording to the number of yarns per inch in the fabric tobe woven.

In the drawings, no attempt has been made to show easiest consistentlythis number of yarns, a fewer number being shown in Figures 4 and 6 tosimplify the presentation whilst in respect of the number of coloursavailable for each of the three yarns. Figure 3 of the drawingsindicates these yarns which may be of dilferent colours again this beingpurely by way of example and not in any limiting sense.

Referring now more specifically to the construction of the apparatus forcarrying out the primary stages, this may be provided with any suitableform of frame or supporting structure comprising, for example, sideframe members indicated at 13, 14, connected at suitable positions bytransversely extending tie-rods or members 15.

Supported in this frame is a receiving assembly for the yarn ends bymeans of which they are retained and spaced individually apart in aseries of vertical rows arranged side by side, there being one row foreach set of supply bobbins.

The receiving assembly may comprise a series of vertically disposedstrips or elongated members 17 which are formed with a vertically spacedseries of yarn receiving apertures through which respective yarn ends18a to 18f extend, their extremities protruding somewhat as seen inFigure 3 from the mouths of the apertures from the side frame thereofremote from the supply bobbins.

It will be understood that I have shown in each of the members 17 onlysix yarn receiving apertures with the object of simplifying thedisclosure but it will be understood that I may provide as manyapertures as may be required preferably a suflicient number toaccommodate the difierent colours which will occur in a plurality ofpile fabric patterns thereby avoiding the necessity for changing thesupply bobbins changing from setting operations pertaining to onepattern to setting operations pertaining to another pattern.

The strips 17 are supported in guide 19 permitting the strips to bedisplaced endwise in a vertical direction so that any of the protrudingyarn ends may be brought into registration with extractor meanshereinafter described and whereby the strips may thus collectivelypresent to the extractor a transversely extending line of yarn ends ofthe required colour combination.

instead of the strips 17 being slidably mounted they could be of arcuateform and supported for angular displacement about their centres ofcurvature which are arranged co-axially with each other, the yarn endsprotruding radially outwards from the convex sides of the strips throughspaced apertures therein.

The extractor means indicated generally at 21 may comprise a gripperassembly consisting of a plurality of gripper unis arranged side by sideas seen particularly in Figure 4 at 2-1, there being one gripper unitfor each yarn to be extracted in the primary stage of the method.

Each gripper unit may be formed of a pair of jaws of which one 22(Figure 3) is fixed in position and the other 23 can pivot about aspindle 24 and has an upwardly projecting arm 25 co-acting withactuating mechanism for opening and closing the jaws.

This mechanism may comprise a rockable bar 26 extending transversely ofall the arms 25 and engaging in the upwardly directed opening affordedby a bifurcated portion 27 at the upper end of each arm, this bar beingspring loaded by coiled compression springs 28 for movement through anover dead centre position between a closed position as indicated inFigure 3 and an open position wherein a lever arm 29 occupies theposition indicated in broken lines 39, the jaws then being open.

Further, a hand lever 31 may be provided for opening and closing thejaws manually when required.

All these parts of the extractor means are mounted and supported on aslide preferably in the form of a hollow housing as indicated at 32including laterally extending apertured lugsor bosses 8? which operateon slide bars 34 permitting the whole assembly to be moved from thewithdrawi 'sition illustrated in Figure 3.to an extracting position init is disposed with the gripper units adjacent to one line of yarn endsprotruding from the members 17 p v The purpose of the lever arm 219 isto permit of automatic power closing of the jaws of the gripper unitswhen these havebeen brought collectively to the. extracting position aswill be hereinafter more fully described.

It will be understoodthat inthe above described arrangement selection ofthe transversely extending line of yarn ends is performed by displacingthe strips or members 17 vertically to predetermined positionsinrelation to the stations occupied by the individual gripper units 21when these are at the extracting position. This represents asatisfactory and convenient method of perform: ing the selection and onewhich would permit of the use of a common gripper ass embly extendingtransversely of the whole of the strips or members 17 instead ofproviding individual gripper units 21 as illustrated. H

However, it will be understood that if desired I could provide a yarnreceiving and retaining member or assembly thereon wherein the yarn endpasses through apertures maintained in a stationary position and in thiscase I might provide individual gripper units for each row of yarn endsmovable in a direction lengthwise of this row so as to be capable ofextracting a particular yarn end but afterwards retractable to withdrawnpositions at or near the same level so that the drawn-out lengths ofyarn can conveniently be applied to a storage device in a manne'rsimilar to that hereinafter described.

Supported between the side frame members of the ap paratus convenientlyat a position beneath the extended lengths 33 of the yarns drawn-out bythe extractor means upon retraction thereof to its withdrawn position isprovided a storage means which in the construction illustrated comprisesa storage bobbin of relatively short length in comparision with thelength of the spool on to which the yarns are to be set. A storagebobbin with yarns stored thereon in organized positional sequence isillustrated in perspective in Figure 2 of the drawnings and mayconveniently be formed with a drum in the form of a hollow centralspindle affording an aperture 4 permitting a plurality of such bobbinsto be afterwards assembled end to end upon a common shaft so that theyarn groups stored on respective bobbins arearranged in a sequencecorresponding to that in which their respective yarn groups are requiredto be arranged along the spool to be set. These supply bobbins may haveflanges at their ends of diameter greater than the spool flanges, forexample, the end flanges 35 of these bobbins may be of 4" to 6" indiameter or thereabouts permitting a supply of yarn to be stored thereonsufiicient to fill several corresponding sections on the spools to beset. The apparatus includes means for supporting these storage bobbinsreleasably and power means for rotating them to wind off the requiredquantity of yarn in each yarn group selected.

For this purpose, the apparatus may include opposed but alignedretaining plates 36 and 37 provided with peripheral flanges 38, 39, toretain a supply bobbin in position between the plates by the seating ofits end flanges 35 within these peripheral flanges 38 and 39 asindicated in Figure 4. v

The plate 37 may be slidable in an axial direction by mounting it on aspindle 40 movable endwise through a bearing provided in one of the sidemembers 14, a coiled compression spring 41 tending to urge the plate inan inward direction and a pivoted hand lever 42 being provided forwithdrawing the plate outwardly to permit of insertion and release ofthe supply bobbins. 7

Any suitable form of driving connection between the plate 36 and thebobbin, for example, the plate 36 may have one or more pegs orprojections extending inwardly from its inner faceto engage in acorresponding hole or holes 43 in the bobbin flange.

The plate 36 may be formed with an integral V-pulley portion 44 withwhich is engaged a transmission belt 45' passing over a pulley 46 on thespindle of a driving motor indicated at 47 and mounted on a bracket orplatform 48 between the side members of the apparatus at a positionrearwardly and beneath the bobbin supporting assembly.

' In the construction illustrated, the disposition of the plates 36 and37 which support individual storage bobbins in turn is such that theextended row of yarns drawn-out V by the extractor means is positionedby the combination ofthe latter and the yarn receiving strips '17 so astolie between the flanges 35 of a bobbin when disposed between theplates 36 and 37. Conveniently, therefore, these yarns may be attachedto or otherwise engaged with the bobbin collectively by the provision ofsuitable means thereon such as a clamping bar associated with thespindle of the bobbin after which the yarns can be released from theextractor by operating the lever 31 and the bobbin rotated to draw-offthe required length of yarn.

In any of these arrangements, it is not necessary particularly at theposition where the yarn ends are received in their respective aperturesin the strips or members 17 that the lateral spacing between adjacentvertical rows of yarns should be as close as that which will ultimatelyobtain between adjacent yarns when set on to the spool in fact thespacing may advantageously be made deliberately greater at this positionto avoid lateral congestion of the yarn receiving and retaining meanssuch as the strips 17 and to avoid any like congestion in the extractormeans, on the other hand it is desirable to avoid too great a lateralexpansion of the yarns during these stages and during storage on thebobbins or yarn beam since this'would ultimately require a correspondingdegree of convergence or lateral condensation in the course of theirultimate transference collectively from the storage device to the spoolto be set. V

I find in'practice that a convenient spacing to be adopted betweenadjacent vertical rows of yarns in the receiving strips or members 17lies in the range /8" to or thereabouts but it is to be understood thatthese are only preferred spacings and the invention in its broaderaspects is not limited thereto.

In order to avoid the necessity for large vertical displacements of theindividual receiving strips or members 17 in cases where these arerequired to present a relatively large number of differently colouredyarn ends, for example, 10, 12 or more, I may adopt a modificationillustrated diagrammatically in Figure 8 wherein each set of supplybobbins containing yarns ofditlerent colours, one of which is selectedfor each position in the selected yarn group during the primary stage ofthe method may be received in apertures provided in two laterallyadjacentreceiving strips or 'members instead of apertures in only onesuch strip or member. 1

In the fragmentary plan view of Figure 8, the bracketed strips ormembers 49a, 49b, and 50a, 50b, each afford two vertical rows ofapertures and each received one set of differently coloured yarn endsfor selective extraction by the extractor means.

These paired strips or receiving. members will all ordinarily be loweredor otherwise displaced to a position whereinall their yarn ends are outof registration with the extractor means and the selector means'providedwill co-operate to raise or displace only. 'one strip or member of eachpair during each selection so as to present only one yarn end from eachset of supply bobbins to the extractor means.

The lateral spacing in this case may vary across the Width of theextracted line of yarns as, for example, is seen in Figure 8 whereinchain lines 490, 50c, 51c and. 520, represent extractions of yarns madeone from each pair of associated strips or members.

To convert these yarns into uniformly laterally spaced relation, theymay be passed through guide means indicated generally at 53 in the formof a med or sley having dents 54 extending upwardly from laterallyslidable bases 55.

To'each of these bases may be secured or connected link members 56 soarranged as to permit the bases and associated dents to be expandedlaterally to limits determined by the ends of the links wherein adjacentdents are then spacedrso as to receive between them yarns extracted froman associated pair of receiving strips or members irrespective of theparticular strip or member in this pair from which the yarn isextractedp After 7 passage through. the' space between adjacent dents,these may then be contracted laterally from their former double-spacedrelationship to asinglespaced relationship in which their separation isdefined by engagement of adjacent edges of the bases55 and the lateralspacing of the yarns emerging from the reed .or sley will then beuniform and independent of the particular receiving strip or member ineach pair from which'it pro ceeds.

Any suitable'form of selector device, preferably responsive toperforated'record cards or a roll or other record member may be employedto determine the vertical position of each of the yarn receiving stripsor members 17 and hence to determine which of the yarns will beextracted by the extractor means.

Such a device may conveniently be in the form of a Jacquard mechanism,known per se which is illustrated in Figure 5. r

In this mechanism, the upper end of each of the strips or members 17 isconnected by suitable wires 57 to lifter members 58 guided for verticalsliding movement and ordinarily maintained in a raised position as seenin Figure 5 by means of a transversely extending raising bar 59 engagingbeneath a head 60 at the upper end of each of the lifter members 58.

Each of the lifter members 58 carries a plurality of vertically spacedstirrups 61a t0.61e which may be in the form of U-shaped members ofresilient strip 'metal engaged slidably but frictionally with theirlifter member .so as to be displaceable transversely thereto from theposition shown in Figure 5 to a forwardly projected position in whichthey would become engaged during downward movement of the lifter memberwith a stop bar 62.

In register with each of these stirrups are springloaded plungers 63a to63c slidably supported by plates or members 64 and having coiledcompression springs disposed on the plungers as illustrated to 'urgethem away from the stirrups.

A Jacquard cylinder which may be in the form of a hexagonal prism asindicated at 65 carries a chain of Jacquard cards 66 which areperforated to allow the ends of the plungers nearest the Jacquardcylinder to pass through the perforations and through underlying holesin the plates of which the Jacquard cylinder is composed when the latteris 'reciprocated bodily towards the plungers as indicated by the arrow67.

In each vertical row of holes in the Jacquard cards,

there will be one unperforated position so that one of the plungers63a'1to 63:: will be moved forwardly to project its associated'stirrupin the same direction. 7 Consequently, when the raising bar 59 islowered each of the lifter members 58 will fall until the partic-' ularstirrup therefrom which has been projected forwardly engages with thestop-bar 62 and the yarn receiving strips or members will fallindividually'to like extents thus hringing a predetermined yarn end intoregistration with the jaws of the gripper units.

On completion of each cycle of operations a pivotally supported plate 68moves against the stirrups to cancel the previous selection. I

The. mechanism for rotating the Jacquard cylinder to bring afreshJacquard card into the operative position 9 opposite the rearward endsof the pluiigers 6321 to 63s for reciprocating the Ja c'qiiard cyliiiderfor moving the raising bar 59 and for spe'r itmjg the cancelling plate68 may be arranged in any conveiiient or known manner and has not beenillustrated in detail since it is considered that the provision of suchmechanism coill'd readily be made without detailed special instructions.

In a case where each set of supply bobbins have their yarn ends broughtto paired receivingstrips or members 49a, 49b, 59a, 5017, etc. asillustrated in Figure 8, it would be necessary to provide acorresponding number of lifter members 58 for each ofthe individualreceiving strips or members and in this case theJacquard cards would beso perforated that only one strip or member of each pair would belowered to an operative position in each cycle of operations the loweststirrup on each of the members 68 in this case representing a blankposition wherein none of the yarn ends are lowered sufficiently to bebrought into registration with the gripper units. 7 I r i Formaintaining the proper, lateral separation between adjacent yarns wheninex tended form as indicated at 33 the apparatus is providedwithguiding means disposed between the receiving strips or members 17 andthe extractor means when in its withdrawn positionas seen in Figure 3.The guiding means maybe in the form of a reed or sley 69 providedwithdents spaced apart in correspondence with thespacing of the yarnsobtaining at the receiving strips or members 17. This reed or sley maybe supported on a retractablecarrier bar 70 itself mounted on slides 71operating in vertical guides 72 secured to or formed on the inner facesof the side frame members, the carrier bar may also be provided with aseating for receiving the comb 73 of a conventional cap and combassemblysometimes known as a, clamp and guard, the cap being removed toallow the extended yarns 33 to pass betweenthe dents of this comb.

At a convenient position adjacent to th strips 17, we may provide knifeor shearmeans for severing the yarns so that the protruding portionsthereof after such severing are of substantially equal lengths and arecapable of being seized by the gripper units. 7

These means may, forexample, be intthe form of a vertically movablesupport 112 upon Which are carried a pair of toothed or hotched shearingblades 1 3 movable endwise relative. to, each ,oth'er so that yarnsdisposed in between their, teeth or in' their notches become severed bythe sh'arpenedsides, of the teeth or notches. The member 112 andthebladesnllimay be operated automatically by any suitable form ofmechanism not shown in detail.

When drawing-off operations have been completed and the storage bobbinfilled to the required extent the comb 73 which is then properly engagedwith its dents between adjacent yarns may be removed from the carrierbar 70 and laid across the storage bobbin ,whereon it can be retained inposition by springs or fasteningmembers as indicated at 74 (Figure 2)the cap 75. being placed on the comb to prevent unwinding anddisplacement of the yarns after the storage bobbin has been removed fromthe apparatus.

The moving parts of the apparatus may beoperated by any suitable form ofdrive mechanism which may, for example, comprise amain drive shaft 76.journalled be: tween the side frame members of the apparatus and havingthe gear 77 fixed thereto driven from a pinion 78 which is itself drivenfrom a power unit such as an electric motor.

The drive shaft 76 may have mounted thereon a main cam 79 of which oneface is provided with a. cam groove 80 controlling movement of theextractor means by a transmission linkage comprising arocker ,81 onwhicha cam follower 82 is mounted, this, rocker being connected by alink to an ,arm 83 fixed on a transverse, shaft The shaft 84 has fixedthereto at each end upwardly extending crank arms 86 having slottedlittle ends through which extend pins 88 secured to the bosses 89 of theextractor housing.

The opposite face of the main cam 79 may be pro vided with a further camgroove indicated in broken lines 96 (Figure 3) for the purpose ofcontrolling vertical movement of the carrier bar 70 which supports theguiding reed or sley 69 and the comb 73. The form of this cam is suchthat the carrier bar is lowered whilst the extractor means are disposedin the immediate vicinity of the yarn receiving strips or members 17 andupon withdrawal of the extractor means the carrier bar is raised toengage the guiding means with the extended yarns 33.

The cam groove hi) has a follower 91 operating therein which issupported at one end of a lever 92 fixed to a transverse shaft which ateach of its ends is provided with further levers 93 coupled by links 94to the lower ends of the slides 71, the periphery of the main cam 79 isformed with a pip or rise 95 for operating automatic closure means forthe gripper units when these are in a position to engage with onetransversely extending line of protruding yarn ends. i

A pair of lever arms 96 pivoted on the outer sides of the side framemembers for oscillation about a common axis are connected at one end toa transverse supporting bar 97 for a cam follower 98 mounted thereon toco operate with the rise 95 and the other ends of these levers areconnected to the lower ends of upwardly extending rods 99 guided forendwise movement at their upper ends in brackets 100 secured to one ofthe pillars 101 supporting the part of the frame which carries theselector device or Jacquard.

The rods and associated levers 96 are urged upwardly by coiled tensionsprings 102 anchored to the frame and to the levers 96 as seen in Figure1 and serve also to maintain the cam follower in engagement with theperiphery of the cam 79.

Near their upper ends the rods 99 are provided with collars 103 whichare adapted to engage with the lever arms 29 of the extractor means toeffect closure of the gripper units at the required time when the rise95 lifts the cam follower 93.

In the alternative construction of apparatus illustrated in Figures 9 to12 the apparatus is arranged to receive either a yarn beamof asufficient length to accommodate simultaneously all the yarn groupsrequired to fill a spool or alternatively to accommodate a plurality offractional Width bobbins disposedin coaxial relation for the samepurpose such assembly of fractional width bobbins being deemed toconstitute a yarn beam.

In this construction wherein like parts are designated by like referencenumerals as used in the embodiment described with reference to and asshown in Figures 1 to 5, the side frame members 13 and 14 are formed attheir upper edges with recesses in order to permit a laterally extendingcarriage 121 to lie transversely of the side frame members below theextended lengths 33 of yarns drawn out by the extractor means uponretraction to its withdrawn position.

At opposite ends the carriage 121 is provided with upstanding webs orplates 122 which serve to accommodate bearings 123 for stub spindles orfor a shaft 124 upon which a yarn beam 125 is disposed.

The yarn beam is suitably keyed or otherwise fixed to this shaft whichat one end is provided with a coupling member such as a dog clutchelement 126 for engagement with a complementary dog clutch element 127mounted upon the spindle of a drive motor 128 supported upon a platform129 formed as a lateral extension of the carriage.

The carriage itself may be mounted upon laterally extending guides formovement therealong these guides conveniently being in the form of apair of spaced rails i129 11 and the carriage at its underside beingprovided with grooved rollers 130 running on the rails.

' The extremities of the rails 129 may be supported by brackets 131 of Lshape as viewed in end elevation one limb of each of these bracketsbeing disposed adframe member 13 or 14 and suitably secured thereto. 7

The yarn beam may be in the form illustrated in Figure 10 wherein thecentral tubular portion 132 of the yarn beam besides being provided withfiangemembers 133 at its ends has a plurality of intermediate flangemembers 134 disposed at spaced positions along its length to divide theyarn beam into the requisite number of sections each of which is of alength to accommodate one yarn group containing yarns equal in number tothose extracted by the extractor 20.

In an alternative arrangement I might employ in place of this yarn beama plurality of separate fractional length storage bobbins disposed uponthe shaft 124 and suitably keyed or otherwise fixed thereto to enablethem to be driven by the motor 128.

In yet another alternative as illustrated in Figure 11 the yarn beam mayhave at one end a frusto-conical portion 135 and the extended yarns 33during winding on to the yarn beam may be given by any suitable meanssuch as the reed or sley 69 or a further reed or sley not illustrated, alateral bias toward the frusto-conical portion so that successive layersor pulleys of each yarn tend to be moved laterally and form aself-supporting winding in the form illustrated by the broken lines 136;The frusto-conical end portion of this winding will then perform a likefunction for the next succeeding winding to that performed by thefrusto-conical portion 135 and ultimately the yarn beam 137 will befilled by a series of windings of the form indicated at 136 arranged endto end. a

For retaining the carriage in each of a plurality of positions along theguide members or rails 129 the carriage may be provided with notches orrecesses as indicated at 138 into which can enter a detent in the formof a lever arm 139 pivotally secured to one of the side frame membersand biased by a coiled tension spring 140 into an operative lockingposition as seen in Figure 9 wherein it rests'against a lug or stop 141.The detent can be displaced to free the carriage for movement to anotherposition by depression of the handle 142 accessible to the operator atthe front of the machine.

'For displacing or traversing the carriage along the rails 129 powermeans may be provided such as a drive motor 143 (Figure 12) mounted uponseparating brackets or bearers 144 secured to one of the side framemembers of the machine. a

This motor may through suitable reduction gearing be coupled by a beltor chain drive 145 to a traversing screw 146 extending between theside'frame members and supported in bearings mounted at the upper edgesthereof.

For co-operation with this traversing screw the carriage may have a nutbar extending for the length of the carriage, this nut being eitherformed with a continuous nut surface at its underside or a plurality ofspaced nut elements as indicated generally at 147. The nut bar may bepivotally mounted at 148 on the underside of the carriage and may haveconnected therewith a control lever 149 by means of which the operatorcan disengage the nut surface or nut elements from the traversing screwtowards which they are biased by means of a spring 150.

The linkage for effecting movements of the extractor 20 is somewhatmodified in comparison with that illus trated in the precedingembodiment, in the present case the extractor having two rearwardlyextending draw bars 151 disposed above the recess 120 in the side framemembers which accommodates the carriage and yarn beam the rearward endsof these draw bars being pivotally connected to crank'arms-152 replacingthe crankarms 86.

jacent to the outer side the face of an associated side.

For carrying out. the secondary stage of the. method,

12 apparatus may be provided as illustrated in Figure 6 whereby anassembly of an appropriate number of storage bobbins are arranged end toend in axial succession upon a spindle 104 and the yarn ends drawn-offfrom all these bobbins are wound on to a spool 105.

The apparatus shown in Figure 6 has been illustrated as a separateentity for convenience but it will be understood that it may either beprovidedin this form or alternatively it may form part of the apparatusshown in and described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 for carrying outthe primary stages of the method or as shown in Figures 9 to 12. In thislatter case the apparatus of Figure 6 would be mounted in convenientproximity to the storage yarn beam thereby permitting the directWindingoff from this yarn beam on to the spool of the yarns collectivelystored on the yarnbeam.

The yarns from only one of the storage bobbins have been shown extendingon to the spool 105 to simplify the drawings but it will be understoodthat in practice all the yarns will simultaneously be wound on to thespool.

Any suitable form of releasable supporting and driving means may beprovided for the spool 105 such means being operatively connected with apower source or driving motor preferably through a clutch.

If desired, braking means may be provided in conjunction with theassembly of storage bobbins to regulate the tension of the yarns as theyare wound ofi? from the bobbins and wound on to the spool.

This apparatus may have any suitable form of base or frame indicatedgenerally by the chain lines 106 and supported thereon in between thebobbins and the spool are guide means in the form of a reed or sleyindicated generally at 107.

This reed or sley is shown in greater detail in Figure 7 and may beconstructed so that groups of dents or teeth indicated at 108 aremovable relatively to each other laterally of the extended yarns 109 toa controlled extent determination by pin and slot coupling members 110connecting adjacent groups 108.

In the laterally expanded position as illustrated by the fragment of thereed or sley shown in Figure 7 respective groups of dents or teeth 108are separated from each other at adjacent ends by the thickness ofadjacent and abutting spool fianges 35 .whilst the individual dents 111are spaced apart laterally in accordance with the spacing of the yams onthe storage bobbins.

This arrangement permits the yarns to be engaged between the dents ofthis reed or sley readily by employing the individual caps and combsattached to individual storage bobbins to draw-out a sufiicient lengthof yarn and lay this across the particular group of dents 108 oppositethe bobbin concerned.

Afterwards the individual caps and combs are removed, the reed or'sleyismoved to its contracted position in which the ends of the dent groups108 abut each other to provide an overall. lateral spacing which isuniform throughout the width of the extended yarns and permits them tobe laid on the spool 105 for winding.

A similar arrangement may be adopted where instead of employingindividual storage bobbins a single yarn beam is used as the storagedevice this being provided with partitioning flanges along its length.

Alternatively, if the storage bobbins or the yarn beam have the yarnswound thereon at a spacing which is greater than that required on thespool, a reed or sley may be provided in which the dents or teeth canexpand or contract laterally relatively to each other uniformly throughthelength of the reed or sley as, for example, illustrated in Figure 8.V

7 What I claim then is:

1. A method of setting a spool comprising assembling supply bobbins intoa plurality of aligned vertical rows on an appropriate supporting means,each said bobbin bearing yarn of a color differing from that borne byother bobbins in its row, threading the respective yarn ends from thebobbins of each of said vertical rows through guide apertures in avertically extending vertically movable strip, selectively verticallypositioning said strips to provide at a particular level a horizontalrow of yarn ends of a selected color combination projecting from saidapertures, moving a reciprocable gripper means to a position adjacentsaid horizontal row of projecting yarn ends and gripping saidhorizontally aligned yarn ends therewith, reversely moving said grippermeans to simultaneously draw said gripped yarns through said aperturesand from said supply bobbins to extend them tangentially of and adjacenta storage bobbin, attaching said yarn ends to said storage bobbin andwinding them thereon to fill the same, repeating the aforesaid stepswith varying positions of said vertical strips to fill a plurality ofstorage bobbins with variously patterned sectional warps, mounting aplurality of such storage bobbins coaxially to present their yarns inselected longitudinal sequence, and winding the composite warp so formedfrom said storage bobbins onto a spool.

2. A method of setting a spool comprising assembling supply bobbins intoa plurality of aligned vertical rows on an appropriate supporting means,each said bobbin bearing yarn of a color differing from that borne byother bobbins in its row, threading the respective yarn ends from thebobbins of each of said vertical rows through guide apertures in avertically extending vertically movable strip, utilizing a Jacquardmechanism to vertically position said strips to provide at a particularlevel a horizontal row of yarn ends of a selected color combinationprojecting from said apertures, moving a reciprocable gripper means to aposition adjacent said horizontal row of projecting yarn ends andgripping said horizontally aligned yarn ends therewith, reversely movingsaid gripper means to simultaneously draw said gripped yarns throughsaid apertures and from said supply bobbins to extend them tangentiallyof and adjacent a storage bobbin, attaching said yarn ends to saidstorage bobbin and winding them thereon to fill the same, repeating theaforesaid steps with varying positions of said vertical strips to fill aplurality of storage bobbins with variously patterned sectional warps,mounting a plurality of such storage bobbins coaxially to present theiryarns in selected longitudinal sequence, and winding the composite warpso formed from said storage bobbins onto a spool.

3. A method of setting a spool comprising assembling supply bobbin intoa plurality of aligned vertical rows on an appropriate supporting means,each said bobbin bearing yarn of a color difiering from that borne byother bobbins in its row, threading the respective yarn ends from thebobbins of each of said vertical rows through guide apertures in avertically extending vertically movable strip, selectively verticallypositioning said strips to provide at a particular level a horizontalrow of yarn ends of a selected color combination projecting from saidapertures, moving a reciprocable gripper means to a position adjacentsaid horizontal row of projecting yarn ends and gripping saidhorizontally aligned yarn ends therewith, reversely moving said grippermeans to simultaneously draw said gripped yarns through said aperturesand from said supply bobbins to extend them tangentially of and adjacenta storage bobbin, attaching said yarn ends to said storage bobbin andWinding them thereon to fill the same.

4. A method of setting a spool comprising assembling supply bobbins intoa plurality of aligned vertical rows on an appropriate supporting means,each said bobbin bearing yarn of a color difiering from that home byother bobbins in its row, threading the respective yarn ends from thebobbins of each of said vertical rows through guide apertures in avertically extending vertically movable strip, utilizing a Jacquardmechanism to vertically position said strips to provide at a particularlevel a horizontal row of yarn ends of a selected color combinationprojecting from said apertures, moving a reciprocable gripper means to aposition adjacent said horizontal row of projecting yarn ends andgripping said horizontally aligned yarn ends therewith, reversely movingsaid gripper means to simultaneously draw said gripped yarns throughsaid apertures and from said supply bobbins to extend them tangentiallyof and adjacent a storage bobbin, attaching said yarn ends to saidstorage bobbin and winding them thereon to fill the same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS880,169 Smith et a1. Feb. 25, 1908 1,096,702 Fleisher May 12, 19141,478,082 Whitlock Dec. 18, 1923 1,718,273 Baylis June 25, 19291,791,373 Pearsall Feb. 3, 1931 2,342,265 Garrity Feb. 22, 19442,578,017 Rovas Dec. 11, 1951

